Karl F. Berger, 62, a resident of Bremen and an active community leader, died suddenly on June 16 at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta.
Karl was born Aug. 21, 1944 in Ware, Mass., the son of Henry Romaine and Nannie Howard Berger. He was a graduate of the Augusta Military Academy in Fort Defiance, Va. and The American Institute of Banking. He attended the University of Delaware where he met Mary, his wife of 42 years.
Karl worked for different banks for 31 years, beginning in a proof department and finishing as a vice president of trust operations. Upon his retirement from banking, he began a real estate career, working with his wife, Mary, for seven years in East Greenwich, R.I.
Karl and Mary retired and moved to Biscay Pond, where he first wished to put down roots as a love-struck 19-year-old, and quickly became part of the fabric of the community. He served four years as Bremen Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor. The last year he was chairman of the Board. Seeing a need on the Planning Board, he moved on to that position in the last election. He also served on the Lincoln County Budget Committee. His interest in public service began more than 30 years ago when he managed his best friend’s campaign for state representative in Delaware.
While in Rhode Island, Karl joined the East Greenwich Rotary Club, and transferred that membership to the Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotary Club, where he was currently serving as the Club Treasurer.
An active person, Karl was an avid participant in many sports, especially baseball and basketball. His first love was for the Brooklyn Dodgers but once they moved, he grew to love the Red Sox. He pitched for his banks’ softball teams and played guard for their basketball teams. When his sons got old enough, he coached their Little League teams. As they grew older, Karl turned to umpiring and spent 28 years honing his art behind the plate. He was sought after by many Little League coaches because of his talent for passing on his knowledge of and love for the game to players, explaining the rules behind the calls, as well as teaching how to be a better player whenever he could. In the winter, he could often be found on the ski slopes of Sugarloaf. Any other season, he loved to play golf and was a member of the Wawenock Country Club in South Bristol.
He served as chairman of the investment committee for the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle and as a member of the Pemaquid Watershed Association. He was a founder and served for many years on the board of directors of the Providence Rhode Island Ronald McDonald House. He also served as their volunteer coordinator on the operations committee and was treasurer. He received the Golden Eagle Award from Rhode Island Hospital Trust for outstanding community service in 1991.
He was predeceased by his sister, Janice Askins; and brothers, Romaine H. and Vernon Berger.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Bryant Berger of Bremen; sons Karl Richard and wife Young-Ah Chung of Pennington, N.J. and Osaka, Japan, and Gregory Michael and wife Erin of Littleton, Mass.; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Booher and husband Kent of Bremen and Bradenton, Fla.
Service in celebration of the life of Karl 2 p.m., Fri., June 22 at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you find a need in your community, and DO one more thing to meet that need and honor Karl’s passion for serving others.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
